TheHomewoodStar.com
April 2013
The Homewood Star Volume 3 | Issue 1 | April 2013
Field of dreams
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
Speaking for the survivors After a battle with ovarian cancer, HHS senior Camille Ponseti is this year’s Relay for Life honorary chair ›› See more area runs on page 7 By MEGAN SMITH
Hall-Kent first grader Aidan Cockrell has dreams of the big leagues. Find out more inside.
Sports page 20
Spring Home Guide Special Section page 22
Acting out Homewood Superintendent Bill Cleveland voiced concerns with portions of Alabama’s recently passed Accountability Act.
School House page 12
INSIDE Sponsors ................. 2 City ........................... 4 Community ............. 5 Food ......................... 10 Business .................. 11 School House ......... 13 Sports ...................... 16 Calendar ................. 26 Opinion .................... 27
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656
facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
Camille Ponseti studied for her A.P. English exam for more than a year, but come test time she wasn’t in her seat. She had more important things to worry about. The previous day, the Homewood High School junior was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pain. She had been in minor pain and had a fever on and off for a few weeks, but wasn’t aware it was anything serious – until doctors discovered and removed a grapefruit-sized tumor on her ovaries. Believing it to be an ovarian cyst, they sent Ponseti home to recover for a few weeks. It was May 2012 when Ponseti returned for her follow-up visit
and was told the pathology report on the cyst came back with surprising results. It was actually a rare germ cell cancer, Dysgerminoma, a malignant tumor of the ovary. According to cancer.org, less than 2 percent of ovarian cancers are germ cell tumors. But her doctor said there was a 97 percent survival rate, which helped her remain strong. “Being told I have cancer was a numbing feeling,” Ponseti said. “It took a while to set in.” Although the tumor was removed, its rupturing could have potentially released cancer cells into her body. Trace amounts
See Ponseti | page 25
Camille Ponseti wears a teal wig, the color representing ovarian cancer awareness. After beating the disease, she is the “face” of the 2013 Relay for Life. She is pictured with, clockwise from front left, Lew Price and Jake, Jaimie and Trish Ponseti.
Proposed Master Plan for former Magnolia Apartments property unveiled
Access Road
By MADOLINE MARKHAM Soon, the former Magnolia Apartments property on Valley Avenue will no longer be an eyesore for the community. Homewood City Schools has developed a new master plan for the 24 acres adjacent to Homewood Middle School, which were ue en Av purchased by HCS in December 2010. y lle Va The proposed Master Plan prioritizes building a new Central Office for Homewood City Schools and creating green space to serve the schools and community. The team behind the master plan worked to take into account the
See Boe | page 25
Relocated 200 Meter Track Athletic & Maintenance Storage Parking for Baseball Field & Tennis Courts Parking for Central Office
ue en Av y lle Va
New Central Office Outdoor Classroom
Existing Homewood Middle School
Existing Community Garden
The former Magnolia Apartments property is located south of Valley Avenue and east of Homewood Middle School. Rendering courtesy of William Blackstone Architects.